Rundlett Middle School

Library Pathfinder

Topic: United States Constitution


Definition/Introduction

What is the topic? What does it cover?

When the American colonists won the Revolutionary War, they won the right and responsibility to govern their new country. The Founding Fathers knew that the new government needed a set of rules. To define the rules for the new government, they created a document called the Constitution.

Catalog Subject Headings or Keywords

Constitution
Bill of Rights
Amendments
Constitutional Convention
Continental Congress
See also specific amendments and names of signers of the Constitution

Dewey Numbers
323.4 Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Press]
323.4 Free Speech
342.73 United States Constitution
973.3 United States Constitutional History

Print Resources

Reference titles [dictionaries, encyclopedias, atlases, specific subject references]

Encyclopedia of the American Constitution. Macmillan Reference USA, c2000.

Feinberg, Barbara Silberdick. The Dictionary of the U.S. Constitution. Franklin Watts, c1999.

Maddex, Robert L. The U.S. Constitution A to Z. CQ Press, c2002.

Pendergast, Tom. Constitutional Amendments : From Freedom of Speech to Flag Burning. UXL, c2001.

Vile, John R. Encyclopedia of Constitutional Amendments, Proposed Amendments, and Amending Issues, 1789-2002. ABC-CLIO, c2003.

General titles [nonfiction, any suitable fiction]

Be sure to check the school online catalog to find suitable materials

Collier, Christopher. Creating the Constitution, 1787. Benchmark Books, c1999.

Freedman, Russell. In Defense of Liberty : The Story of America's Bill of Rights. Holiday House, c2003.

Horn, Geoffrey M. The Bill of Rights and Other Amendments. World Almanac Library, 2004.

Marcovitz, Hal. The Constitution. Mason Crest Publishers, c2003.

Quinn, C. Edward. The Signers of the Constitution of the United States. Grolier Educational, 1996.

Sherman, Josepha. The Constitution. Rosen Pub. Group, 2004.

Journals

Be sure to check the online periodical database which lists a great many articles.

Alter, Jonathan. “Your Right to Know Is at Stake”. Newsweek, 2/28/2005, Vol. 145 Issue 9, p36, 1p, 1c

“My so-called rights”. (cover story) Scholastic Update, 11/3/95, Vol. 128 Issue 5, p4, 2p, 5c

Weisberger, Bernard A.. “Amending America”. American Heritage, May/Jun95, Vol. 46 Issue 3, p24, 2p, 1bw

Web Resources

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United States Constitution

full text of the Constitution
This site has clear explanations of the 3 branches of government set up by the Constitution. You can also find out about what it's like to be president of the U.S. for a day and why voting is important.
Explains historical documents including the Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and others.
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